C11 The Disappointed Marquis Couple

"Who are you? Why have you intruded into my home? And where is my sister?" Lin Yu's wariness spiked, his brows arching sharply, particularly at the middle-aged man whose imposing aura was suffocating.

"Are you... Master Lin?" The middle-aged man was none other than the Southwest Marquis, Nalan Zhan. He had expected an elderly man with a white beard, not the young man before him, which struck him as utterly absurd.

"Can this youngster really cure Ziyan's anorexia? Could we have been duped? Maybe Ziyan simply refuses to eat the meals prepared by Situ Deng." Nalan Zhan turned and quietly shared his doubts with the Marquis's wife, Qin Caiyun.

Qin Caiyun, though also skeptical about Lin Yu's youthful appearance, chided Nalan Zhan upon hearing his murmurs, "He's right here, you know. What are you implying? Yet, he doesn't strike me as a culinary king."

Their attempt at a hushed conversation was futile; Lin Yu, standing before them, caught every word. Though clear, the conversation left him perplexed and concerned.

"If there's something you wish to discuss, please speak plainly. And have you seen my sister?" Lin Yu's concern for Lin Linger was growing.

"Haha..." Nalan Zhan, briefly taken aback, burst into laughter and pointed to himself, "You don't recognize me? Is there another culinary expert in your household? If so, I'd like to meet him. I am Nalan Zhan."

As he announced his name with a lift of his chin, Nalan Zhan expected recognition—after all, who in Heavenly Cloud City didn't know of him? He anticipated Lin Yu's shock and reverence.

"Nalan Zhan, that name rings a bell..." Lin Yu mused internally, still puzzled as Nalan Zhan evaded his question. His anxiety mounting, he pressed, "I'm the only adult here. What have you done with my sister?"

"If you need anything, come directly to me. Please don't bother my sister; she's still quite young this year..." Lin Yu was racking his brain, trying to recall if he had inadvertently crossed someone. Or perhaps Ganoderma Hall had an old adversary?

Yet, this so-called 'adversary' was an odd one, casually stacking hundreds of Spirit Stones on the table. Was he here just to flaunt his wealth?

Nalan Zhan was taken aback, completely unprepared for such a turn of events, and visibly deflated. Meanwhile, Qin Caiyun couldn't contain her laughter. It was her first time witnessing Master Hou face such a blow.

"Brother, something's wrong with the Thunder Earthworm; it's like it's lost all its spirit..." Lin Linger emerged from another room, speaking as she walked. "I won't keep it. I'll take it back to school and have my mentor look at it, maybe even exchange it for one that's more lively."

Upon entering the courtyard and spotting Nalan Zhan and Qin Caiyun by the table, Lin Linger's face blanched as she exclaimed, "Master Nalan, Madam Marquis... what brings you to our home?"

She recognized Nalan Zhan instantly; she had seen him at Heavenly Cloud Academy during the monthly exams, where he had overseen the tests with such vigor, even managing to upset the academy's venerable principal. And now, to see him so disheartened...

Lin Linger ducked her head and turned to Lin Yu, quickly sidling up to him and whispering, "Brother, have you gotten into trouble?"

Still reeling from the surprise, Lin Yu had noted the couple's lavish attire and the ease with which they handled the Spirit Stones, but never imagined that the Marquis himself would make an appearance.

No wonder Nalan Zhan had seemed so smug earlier. In Heavenly Cloud City, the name "Nalan Zhan" was synonymous with the Southwest Marquis, a connection that perhaps only Lin Yu, a newcomer from Earth, had failed to make. Lin Yu promptly bowed and said,

"Lord Hou, my apologies for the earlier disrespect. I truly didn't notice my younger sister and mistakenly thought she..."

Nalan Zhan, with a wave of his hand, showed his displeasure and cast a sidelong glance at Qin Caiyun, who was taking a bit too much pleasure in the situation. His mood soured further. Nevertheless, his visit was for a matter of importance. He inquired, "You're Lin Linger's older brother? The new proprietor of Ganoderma Hall?"

Lin Yu's father had been a distinguished Grade Three Spirit Medicine Master in Heavenly Cloud City, and under his guidance, Ganoderma Hall had flourished. Even Nalan Zhan had heard of its past glory. Yet, upon learning that the establishment was now facing decline under a less competent doctor, he had expressed his disappointment within the walls of his own estate, lamenting Lin Yu's failure to uphold the family legacy.

Little did he expect to be seeking Lin Yu's assistance so soon...

Noticing her lord's pensive expression, Qin Caiyun recognized that Nalan Zhan had slipped into his thoughts once more. It was a habit of his, to drift off mid-conversation. She addressed Lin Yu, "Little Doctor Lin, are there truly no other adults in your household?"

Lin Yu's gaze shifted to the heap of Spirit Stones on the table, and with the memory of the freeloading girl from earlier in the day, he quickly connected the dots. He flashed a wry smile and responded, "Madam Hou, I am indeed the sole adult remaining in my family."

From the sidelines, Lin Linger interjected with discontent, "Brother, I'm sixteen this year. Don't I count as an adult?"

Lin Yu shot her a stern look—this was hardly the time for her to speak up. Yet, he calmly stated, "Until you marry and have children, you're still a child in my eyes. If you never marry, then you'll remain a child forever."

Witnessing their interaction, a wistful look crossed Qin Caiyun's face. How she wished she could provide Nalan Ziyan with a sibling. Alas...

"Cough, cough. It seems you and your sister share a strong bond, Little Doctor Lin. Regrettably, since there's no culinary expert among your elders, it appears we've come to the wrong place." Nalan Zhan cleared his throat, signaling his intention to depart.

Disappointment flickered in Qin Caiyun's eyes.

They hadn't overlooked Lin Yu this time simply because of his youth. To heal Nalan Ziyan, one would expect the skills of at least a culinary master, a chef king. But Lin Yu was a physician... Could he possibly heal Nalan Ziyan through medicinal means?

It wasn't entirely out of the question. If it were Lin Yu's father, a third-grade Spirit Medicine Master, Nalan Zhan might find such a claim credible. The issue, however, was that Lin Yu himself was infamously known as a quack...